AustLit
Or, 'The Empire' and The Empire
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Circulating Libraries
With the comparative expense of books in the mid-Victorian period, circulating libraries were vital to the availability of reading material.
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This circulating library, in George Street, Sydney, was described by American writer Maturin Murray Ballou when he visited Australia in the 1880s.
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William Maddock, proprietor of Maddock's Select Library arrived in Australia in the 1850s, bringing with him knowledge of the English book trade.
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These advertisements for Maddock's Select Library ran repeatedly in The Empire in 1868.
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The Cheap Circulating Library operated from Hunter Street, Sydney.
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Advertisements for the library ran in The Empire throughout the early part of 1868.
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When the Australian Library opened in 1827, the dispenser of the Government Dispensary was appointed librarian.
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A brief report on the annual general meeting of the Australian Library.
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Institutes, Readings, and Recitals
On this tile, explore some of The Empire's reports on literary readings and recitals.
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An advertisement for the Burwood Literary Institute, which often included readings and recitations.
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The record for the organisation itself.
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1562264097521807319.pngUnder the Patronage of H. R. H. Prince Alfred : Great Attraction 1868 single work advertisement
An advertisement (one of several) for a series of recitations by M.E. Aitken and Thomas Padmore Hill.
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Miss M.E. Aitken was a Scottish elocutionist who travelled to and performed in Australia in the 1860s.
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Thomas Padmore Hill was an elocution teacher.
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An advertisement for M.E. Aitken's farewell performance: the advertisement includes full program details.
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An advertisement for George Y. Dane's reading and recital at the Australian Library Hall on 15 April 1868.
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Derwent Moultrie Coleridge was the son of the Rev'd Derwent Coleridge and a grandson of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: this column reports on his reading of Dickens's A Christmas Carol.
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1756107888319674184.pngSaturday Half-Holiday Association : Penny Readings! 1868 single work advertisement
The Saturday Half-Holiday Association regularly gave 'Penny readings', as advertised here.
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A full list of works about the Penny Readings can be accessed via this page for the association itself.
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Here, the columnist expresses disappointment at the quality of the penny readings.
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A brief report on a series of recitals including '[the traditional Irish poem] "Caoch the Piper", the dialogue of Pertius and Marcus from Addison's Cato, Pollock's "Byron" and Hood's "Faithless Nelly Grey".'
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The Union Literary Club described itself as 'association of young men laudably desirous of improving themselves by the cultivation of a taste for oratory, and by devoting their leisure hours to literary pursuits'.
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A report on the recitations following the half-yearly meeting of the Union Literary Club.
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A report on recitations including 'The Jackdaw of Rheims'.
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A report on a meeting that included recitations.
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8110395045861610159.pngSydney Mechanics' School of Arts : Advantages Offered to Members 1868 single work advertisement
An advertisement outlining the benefits of membership.
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The record for the organisation itself.
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The record for the organisation itself.
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Mr Walter Montgomery
Shakespearean actor Walter Montgomery's 'Royal Recitals' took place in 1868.
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Walter Montgomery gave a series of 'Royal Recitals' in early 1868, which were widely advertised and reported in The Empire.
Perhaps the most interesting connection between Montgomery and Australian literature is that he toured New Zealand with Marian Dunn, before reappearing in Melbourne and Sydney in 1868. He invited Dunn to tour America and England with him but she declined, instead remaining in Australia to marry Marcus Clarke.
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An example of the advertising that The Empire ran for the Royal Recitals.
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20 February 1868: A column drawing attention to the forthcoming recitals.
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21 February 1868: A column reminding readers of the forthcoming recitals.
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25 February 1868: A column praising the recital given on the 24th of February, and mentioning the specific works that were given.
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4 March 1868: A column praising the recital given on the 3 of March, and mentioning the specific works that were given.
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9 March 1868: A column praising the recital given on the 7th of March, and mentioning the specific works that were given.
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Lectures
Lectures, as distinct from recitals or readings, had their own place in The Empire. Explore a series of works on literary lectures on this tile.
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A brief note commending R. W. M. Johnson's lecture on the subject of Douglas Jerrold.
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A detailed report on R. W. M. Johnson's lecture on the subject of Douglas Jerrold.
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A detailed report on the lecture delivered by Sheridan Moore on the life and literary career of James Lionel Michael.
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A detailed report on a lecture delivered by the Rev'd John Graham on the subject of 'The English Language'. 'A large number of ladies' were present.
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A report on a lecture (the first in a series) on 'The Literary Efforts of the Working Man', delivered by the Rev'd Dr Steel in connection with the Saturday Half-Holiday Association.
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A lecture delivered by James Cash Nield for the benefit of the Prince Alfred Hospital Fund.
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John Cash Nield informs readers of The empire that his lecture not only failed to raise money, but did not even meet its expenses: he notes that Chippendale is not a favourable location for literary lectures.
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An advertisement for a lecture by Mr R.W.M. Johnson.
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